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£33m ‘nailed on’ Arsenal signing says goodbye to fans

Granit Xhaka has been one of our top targets for quite some time now, but it seems like we could be closing in him this summer. The Daily Star claims he’s “nailed on” to be our first summer signing, with his emotional goodbye to Borussia Monchengladbach after their last game all but confirming his exit.

The report suggests a £33m deal is all but complete, with Xhaka soon to be an Arsenal player. Arsene Wenger is seemingly looking to get his business done early, as opposed to his usual approach of leaving things until deadline day.

The Swiss international performed superbly during his side’s 2-0 win over Darmstadt 98, before being substituted on the 83rd minute. It wasn’t a normal substitution though, as he received a thunderous round of applause from the fans as he said his goodbyes to the fans and his teammates. He did the rounds and hugged a number of the Gladbach staff, very clearly bidding them farewell.

Obviously the 23-year-old’s Gladbach departure doesn’t necessarily mean the Emirates is his destination, but all reports seem to suggest the deal is as good as done. The player himself hasn’t given anything away regarding where he may end up, but the links to other clubs have been far less concrete.

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With a number of ageing Arsenal midfielders seemingly set to leave the club this summer, we badly need reinforcements to bolster the squad. Xhaka looks like he’d be a fantastic signing too, and would provide Arsene Wenger with a very different option in midfield. Santi Cazorla is arguably the only player in the current squad who can really start attacks while still sitting incredibly deep, but Xhaka could certainly perform that role, while also perhaps providing more defensive stability too.

If he really is making the switch to Arsenal though, how long will we have to wait for the announcement?